The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season outlook is an official product of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center (CPC), and is produced in collaboration with scientists from the NOAA National Hurricane Center (NHC) and Hurricane Research Division (HRD). The Atlantic hurricane region includes the North Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Interpretation of NOAA’s Atlantic seasonal hurricane outlook

The August outlook coincides with the onset of the peak months (August-October) of the Atlantic hurricane season.

The outlook provides an updated forecast for the entire hurricane season, and is also a guide for the remainder of the season.

The outlook is not a seasonal hurricane landfall forecast, and it does not imply levels of activity for any particular region.

Preparedness

Hurricane disasters can occur regardless of the overall activity. Residents, businesses, and government agencies of coastal and near-coastal regions should prepare for every hurricane season regardless of the seasonal outlook. NOAA, FEMA, the NHC, Small Business Administration, and the American Red Cross all provide important hurricane preparedness information on their web sites. It only takes one hurricane (or even a tropical storm) to cause a disaster.

NOAA does NOT make seasonal hurricane landfall predictions

NOAA does not make seasonal hurricane landfall predictions. Hurricane landfalls are largely determined by the weather patterns in place as the hurricane approaches, which are not predictable more than 5-7 days in advance.

Nature of this Outlook and the “likely” ranges of activity

This outlook is probabilistic, not deterministic. New this year, we are providing probabilities for the stated likely ranges of named storms, hurricanes, major hurricanes, and Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE).

The outlook is based on 1) predictions of large-scale climate factors known to be strong indicators of seasonal Atlantic hurricane activity, and 2) an analysis of past seasons with similar early-season activity to this year.

These likely ranges do not encompass the total ranges of activity seen in past seasons having similar climate conditions to those expected this year, but are simply the most likely ranges.

The numbers of named storms and hurricanes can sometimes vary considerably for the same set of climate conditions. One cannot know with certainty whether a given climate signal will be associated with several short-lived storms or fewer longer-lived storms with greater intensity.

Weather patterns that are unpredictable on seasonal time scales can sometimes develop and last for weeks or months, possibly affecting seasonal hurricane activity.

2008 Updated Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook Summary

NOAA’s 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook update indicates an 85% probability of an above-normal hurricane season, a 10% chance of a near-normal season, and a 5% chance of a below-normal season. See NOAA definitions of above-, near-, and below-normal seasons. The Atlantic hurricane region includes the North Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Although seasons with similar conditions to those now in place and seasons with similar early-season activity have generally been above-normal, they have featured a wide range of activity. Allowing for uncertainties, we estimate a 67% probability for each of the following seasonal (June-November) ranges, all of which are above average:

These likely seasonal ranges have been observed in about two-thirds (67%) of past seasons having similar climate conditions and similar early-season activity to this year. They do not encompass the total range of activity seen in those past seasons.

To date, the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season has produced five named storms, two hurricanes, and one major hurricane.

This means that we expect considerable activity during the remainder of the 2008 season, with an additional 9-13 named storms, 5-8 hurricanes and 2-5 major hurricanes likely during the remainder of the season (August 7th through November 30th).

DISCUSSION

1. Expected 2008 Activity

This Outlook is a general guide to the expected overall activity for the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season, and for the remainder (August-November) of the season. It is not a seasonal hurricane landfall forecast, and it does not imply levels of activity for any particular area.

The 2008 outlook largely reflects the historical distribution of activity for the dominant climate factors now present, as well as the historical distribution of activity for seasons having significant June-July activity. Two uncertainties in the outlook are the contribution from lingering La Niña impacts, and the possibility that other unpredictable factors could also influence the season.

Another factor guiding the outlook is the strong early-season activity over the tropical Atlantic. This activity is a good indicator of an above normal 2008 season.

An important measure of the seasonal activity is NOAA’s Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index, which accounts for the collective intensity and duration of named storms and hurricanes during the season. The lower threshold of ACE for an above-normal season is 117% of the median. The outlook indicates a likely (67% chance) ACE range of between 140% and 230% of the median. The early-season activity has already produced an ACE value of 46% of the median.

The outlook calls for a 67% chance for each of the following seasonal ranges: 14-18 Named Storms, 7-10 Hurricanes, and 3-6 Major Hurricanes. All of these ranges are above the long-term averages of 11 named storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes. Note that the predicted range for ACE can be satisfied even if these predicted numbers of named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes fall outside the likely ranges.

The 2008 hurricane season has already produced 5 named storms, two hurricanes, and one major hurricane. Therefore, for the remainder of the season (August 7th through November 30th), we expect (67% chance) an additional 9-13 Named Storms, 5-8 Hurricanes, and 2-5 Major Hurricanes.

Based on the ACE prediction, and on the expected above-average numbers of named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes, there is an 85% chance the 2008 season will be above normal.

Promising new climate models that predict seasonal tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic are also suggesting an active season. These forecasts are consistent with our assessment of the current and evolving oceanic and atmospheric conditions for the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season.

Atlantic hurricane seasons exhibit prolonged periods lasting decades of generally above-normal or below-normal activity. These fluctuations in hurricane activity result almost entirely from differences in the number of hurricanes and major hurricanes forming from tropical storms first named in the Main Development Region (MDR), which spans the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea (Goldenberg et al. 2001).

The current active hurricane era began in 1995. Hurricane seasons during 1995-2007 have averaged 14.5 named storms, 8 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes, with an average ACE index of 167% of the median. NOAA classifies nine of the thirteen seasons since 1995 as above normal, with seven being hyperactive (ACE > 175% of median). Only four seasons since 1995 have not been above normal. These include three El Niño years (1997, 2002, and 2006) and the 2007 season.

This high level of activity since 1995 contrasts sharply to the 1971-1994 period of generally below-normal hurricane seasons (Goldenberg et al. 2001), which averaged only 8.5 named storms, 5 hurricanes, and 1.5 major hurricanes with an average ACE index of only 75% of the median. One-half of those seasons were below normal, only three were above normal (1980, 1988, 1989), and none were hyperactive.

Other regional features of the multi-decadal signal currently affecting the Atlantic include 1) an amplified ridge at upper levels across the central and eastern subtropical North Atlantic, 2) reduced vertical wind shear in the deep tropics over the central North Atlantic, which results from an expanded area of easterly wind anomalies in the upper atmosphere (green arrows) and weaker easterly trade winds (westerly anomalies) in the lower atmosphere (dark blue arrows), and 3) weaker easterly winds also evident in the middle atmosphere near Africa, resulting in a configuration of the African easterly jet that favors hurricane development from tropical waves moving westward from the African coast. These conditions have already been responsible for the high levels of early season activity, and they are expected to persist through the season.

b. Lingering La Niña influence

In the latest ENSO Diagnostics Discussion released 7 August 2008, NOAA forecasters state that although La Niña has ended, lingering La Niña impacts are evident in the patterns of tropical convection and winds over the central and western Pacific. This evolution is consistent with NOAA predictions in May. As discussed by Gray (1984), La Niña conditions are typically associated with higher Atlantic hurricane activity, and El Niño with lower hurricane activity. The combination of lingering La Niña conditions and an active hurricane era increases the probability of an above-normal season.

c. Atlantic Sea-surface temperatures (SSTs)

Above-average temperatures returned to the tropical Atlantic during the summer. For the entire main development region, sea-surface temperatures during July averaged +0.3°C, which is consistent with an above-normal season, the ongoing active hurricane era, and longer-term trends.